Strand supplying and distributing apparatus



Jun@ 28, 1932. G. A. SEE-:LEY

STRAND SUPPLYING AND DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS Filed Dele. 9, 1

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Patented June 28, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE A. SEEL'EY, OF IRVINGTON, NEW JERSEY, .ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.. A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK STRAND SUPPLYING AND DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS Application led December 9, 1929. Serial llo. 412,690.

This invention relates to strand supplying and distributing apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus for su pplying strand material to cabling machines.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive apparatus for supplying and distributing strand material uniformly and' under a predetermined tension.

One embodiment of the invention contemplates the provision of an apparatus for supplying strand material or so called cable units to a cabling machine. In accordance with this embodiment of the invention, a plurality of wheeled trucks, each having a reellike member containing a supply of the cable unit, are arranged in pairs, each pair having an .upright or standard associated therewith. The supply reels of the trucks are adapted to be individually associated with fluid operated braking devices which are carried at the extremities of pivoted arms extending from the uprights and which serve to retard the free rotation of the supply reels to thereby maintain the cable units under a predetermined tension. All of the braking devices are supplied by a commonsource of iuid under pressure so that a uniform braking pressure is applied to all of the supply reels, whereby the cable units are maintained under uniform tension. The uprights are provided with apertured guide members for collecting the cable units and directing them to the cabling machine.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein p Fig. 1 is a plan view partly schematic, of a cabling machine having a strand supplying apparatus embodying the features of this invention associated therewith;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan View of the structure shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailed section taken on 1 1ne 5-5 of Fig. 4;

F 1g. 6 is an enlarged vertical section on l1ne 66 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detailed section on line 7-7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary section on line 8-8 v,

the copending application of H. J. Boe, Serialv No. 395,031 iled September 25, 1929. Briefly described, this apparatus comprises a sizing dye 20 (Fig. l), a paper serving head 21, a. capstan 22 and a take-up reel 23. In the operation of this apparatus, a plurality of cable units 25, 25 are drawn by the capstan 22 through the sizing die 2O and the paper serving head 21. The cable 26 thus formed, after making several turns around the capstan 22, is delivered to the take-up reel 23. Through the rotation of the capstan 22 and the take-up reel 23, the cable units are stranded or twisted together in the finished cable in the manner fully illustrated and described in the copending application above referred to.

The present embodiment of the invention has to do with the provision of a simple and eilicient apparatus whereby the cable units 25 may be supplied to the cabling apparatus uniformly and under a predetermined constant tension. As shown in Fig. 1, a plurality of wheeled trucks 30, 30, each having a rotatable reel-like member 31 containing a supply of the cable unit, are arranged in pairs in oppositely disposed rows parallel to and equidistantly spaced from the axis of the cabling apparatus. Associated with each pair of trucks 30 and disposed intermediate the supply reels 31 thereof is an upright member or tubular standard 33 (Fig. 2) having a iiange 34 at the bottom thereof for attachment to a floor or suitable supporting platform (not shown) Spaced to the right of the first upright 33 is a vertical post 36 (Figs. 1 and 6) having a plurality of apertured members 37,

37 extending transversely therefrom for collecting and guiding the individual cable units as they are withdrawn from their respective supplies by the capstan 22 of the cabling apparatus. It will be observed that each of the four upper guide members 37 are provided with two bell-mouthed apertures 38-38, while the two lower guide members are each provided with one, thus making a total of ten apertures, one for each cable unit. It is obvious, of course, that the number and arrangement of the guide members 37, as well as the number and arrangement of the apertures therein may be varied in accordance with any desired number and arrangement of the cable units in the finished cable.

The vertical standards 33 are also provided with guid'e members 37, which increase in number as the cabling apparatus is approached. It is believed that the distribution of the cable units through the guide members 37 will be clearly understood by referring to Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings.

In order to prevent over-running of the suppl reels 31 as the cable units are drawn there rom and to maintain the cable units under a predetermined tension, the supply reels are adapted to be individually associated with fluid operated braking devices, 40, preferably ofthe pneumatic type. Inasmuch as the braking devices are all of the same construction, it is believed that adetailed description of one of them will be suflicient to a complete understanding of the invention.

Each of the braking devices 40 consists of a rotatable spindle or plug 41 (Fig. 4) adapted to be inserted in the ore of the supply reel, a cup shaped outer drum 42 attached to the spindle and arran d tov rotate with the supply reel, and a statlonary cover plate 43 carrying a pair of oppositely disposed brake shoes 44-44 adapted to enga e the internal surface of the drum 42. T e cover plate 43 is attached to an annular plate 46 which is welded or otherwise secured to the outer end of a pivoted channel arm 47, extending from the vertical standard 33. A bushing 48, also secured to the annular late 46, forms a suport for a bearing 49 or rotatabl supportmg the spindle 41. Pins 51 atta ed to the upper head of the supply reel are adapted to engage angle arms 52-52 secured to the brake drum 42 whereby the latter is rotatable with the supply reel.

The brake shoes 44 are pivoted, at one end, u on studs 53-53 secured to the stationary p ate 43 and are connected, attheir opposite ends, to oppositely disposed pistons 55-55 of an air cylinder 56 attached to the underside of the plate 43. A tension spring 58 interconnecting the brake shoes 44 serves to normally hold them released from the brake drum 43. The air cylinder 56 is provided with an inlet pipe 59 which opens to the cylinder chamber intermediate the pistons 55 and extends through the plate 43. The inlet pipe 59 is connected by a exible hose 6() to the upper end of a vertical conduit 61 housed Within the tubular standard 33 and connected at its lower end to a compressed air line 63 extending underneath the surface of the floor. It will now be apparent that when air under ressure is introduced into the cylinder 56 tween the pistons 55 in order to render the brake effective, the pistons will be moved apartythereby causing tht brake shoes 44 to frictionall engage the brake drum 42.

The bra ing devices are all supplied by the compressed air line 63 and thus by maintaining the pressure in this line within the required limits, a predetermined uniform braking pressure is rovided for all of the 'sup ly reels and the ca le units are maintained un er a predetermined uniform tension. The tension of the cable units may be varied by varying the retarding effect of the braking devices 40, all of which may be adjusted simultaneously through a master valve 65 and a pressure regulator 66 connected in the main air line 63. A conventional pressure indicator 68-is provided in the main air line for convenience in adjustin the pressure regulator to obtain the desire retarding effect of the braking devices.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 8, it will be observedithat each braking device 40 is attached to the outer end of its supporting channel 47,

the latter being welded or otherwise secured, at a point spaced from its inner end, to a block 68 pivotall supported betweenspaced guard plates 7 0- 0 extending transversely from the associated vertical standard 33. This construction allows the braking device to be swun to a vertical position, as shown `on dotte lines in Fig. 4, whenit is desiredto remove or replace any of the supply reels. A counter weight 7 2 attached to the inner end of the supporting channel 47 serves to facilitate the upward movement of the braking device and to maintain it in a vertical position. With the braking device in this position, the associated supply reel may readil be removed by rolling the wheeled vtruc `out of position, and a truck containing a full reel maiy conveniently be wheeled into position.

rom the above description, it will be apparent that the present invention provides a simple, inexpensive and efficient apparatus for suppl 'ng and distributingy strand material uni ormly and under a predetermined .constant tension. It should be understood, of course, that the invention `is not limited t0 the specic embodiment thereof herein illustrated and described but is capable of modiications and numerous other applications within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: 1. In an a paratus for su lying strand material, a p urality of rotatallile strand supplies, a fluid operated brakin device removably associated with each o said supplies,

4 and common means for `supplying an operating fluid to all of the `braking devices.

5 2. In an apparatusjor supplying strand material, a sup ort, a plurality of strand supplies spaced rom the ,"support, a lpivoted member extending from the siiport to each of the strand supplies, and a uid operated braking device carried byeach of the pivoted members for operativelyfengaging the associated strand supplies to'.-retard the rotation thereof.

3. In an apparatus for suppl ing strand material, a supp-ort, a plurality o strand supplies spaced from the support, a pivoted member extending from the support to each of the strand supplies, a braking device carried by each of the pivoted members Afor operatlvely engaging the associated strand supply to retard the rotation thereof, and common means for controlling all of the braking devices. Y

4. In an apparatus for supplying strand material, a plurality of rotatable strand supplies arranged in pairs, a supporting member associated with Aeach pair of strand supplies, a pivoted member extending from the supporting member tov each of the associated strand supplies, an adjustable fluid `operated braking device carried by each of the pivoted members for operatively engaging the associated strand supply to retard the rotation thereof, and common means for simultaneously adjusting all of the braking devices.

5. In an apparatus for supplying strand material, a rotatable strand supply, a member pivoted intermediate its ends, a braking device carried at one end of the member for engaging the strand supply to retard the rotation thereof, and a counterweight carried at the opposite end of the member to facilitate the disengagement of the braking device from the strand supply.

6. In an apparatus for supplying strand material, a plurality of spaced vertical standards, a pair of strand supplies associated with each of said standards, apertured members carried by certain of the standards for collecting and guiding the strands drawn from the supplies associated with other of the standards, pivoted arms extending from the standards to the associated strand supplies, a pneumatic braking device carried at the outer end of each of the arms for engaging the associated strand supply, a counter-weight attached -to the inner end of each of said arms, and common means for controlling all of said braking devices.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this thirtieth day of November,

GEORGE A. SEELEY. 

